Boiler-flue cleaner



(No Model.) R. FARIES.

BOILEBl FLUE CLEANER.

No. 539,046. ,Patented May 14, 1895 Fig/f3.

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UNITED i STATES PATENT EEICE.

ROBERT FARIES, OF DEOATUR, ILLINOIS.

BOILER-FLUE CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,046, dated `May14,1895.

Y Application filed September 26, 1894:. Serial No. 524,131. (No model.)

To ct'ZZ whom, it may concern:

lBe it known/that I, ROBERT FARIEs,ot Decatur, in the county of Maconand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Boiler-Flue Cleaners,of which the following is a specification.-

This invention is designed to provide improved means for cleaning linesby scraping. It is exemplified in the structure hereinafter describedand it is defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming part of this speciflcation, Figure l is arepresentation of a cleaner embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 isacentral section lengthwise of the device. Fig. 3 is an end view of thescraping end.

The scrapers l are, in this case, four in number. The operative edge ofeach is the arc of a circle and their relative arrangement is such thattheir combined arcs form a practically continuous circle, approximatelyequal in diameter to the iiue in which the device is .to operate. Eachscraper has a lug, or securing block, as 2, which provides for attachingthe scrapers to the scraper-bars 4, and such lugs are preferably castintegral with the Scrapers. Rivets 3 may be used to make the connectionbetween the bars and the Scrapers, or other known fastenings may besubstituted therefor. The scraper bars are inclined convergingly fromAabout their longitudinal centers to the ends bearing the Scrapers, andtheir inner ends, or ends opposite the-Scrapers, are hooked inwardly.The first named peculiarity of the scraper-bars is indicated at la inthe drawings, and it provides, together with other details to behereinafter described, for varying the diameter of the scraping edge.The second peculiarity is an element for providing simple and easilydisconnected connections between the bars and the stock, and it isespecially designated by reference numeral 4b, in Fig. 2.

The stock of the device comprises the head 7, which is fastened on, orformed integral with, the sleeve 7a, the cap 9, which ts over the end ofthe head and the ends of the bars, and the nut lO, which screws onto theend of the sleeve and holds the cap i'n position. The head has the ribs,or ledges, 8, which form lateral guides for the bars. The ends of thebars hook against the end of the head, and, when the cap is secured inposition, the bars are held securely in the stock in a manner perfmitting the Scrapers to move to and from the axial line of the deviceand preventing motion in other directions. Rod 1l extends through sleeve7, and its inner end, or end extending between thevbars, is threadedandprovided with the correspondingly threaded nut 5. The nut is slotted, asseen at 6, in

Fig. 2, and the scraper-bars extend, somewhat loosely, through theslots. The rod carrying the nut has motion longitudinally in the stockand as itis moved back and forth the bearings of the slots of the nutact against the converging portions of the bars to forcibly expand andcontract the diameter of the scraper. When the uut is moved towardthescrapers the inner bearings of the slots press the bars apart, and,by separating the Scrapers, increase the diameterof the scraping edge;and when the nut is moved in the reverse direction the outer bearingsof`-the slots act forcibly to produce a contrary result. The boss, orenlargement, 13 is a casting secured to the end. of rod l1 outside thescraper stock, and its function, in connection with the rod and thestock, is to limit the inward motion of the rod and to increase thefacility with which the device may be withdrawn from a flue. In additionto this it forms a union between rod 1l and the section of pipe, orelongated sleeve, 1,4, through which, and into the boss, the handle rod15 extends. The pipe 14 is slotted at 14a. Pin 16 extends through rod 15and the slot of the pipe, and the play of the pin in the slot is suchthat the end of rod 15 may strike the end of rod 11 after being movedsome distance', longitudinally, therefrom.

The scraper stock turns freely onrod 11, and this peculiarity isutilized in screwing nut 5 farther on or off the threaded end of saidrod, and thereby varying the extent of motion of the rod in the stockand consequent variation of the expansion of the circumference of thescraper. With each stocka number of sets of scraper bars of differentaggregate diameter may be provided, and such sets may be usedinterchangeably to suit different lines.

vIn operation, the nut, or block, 5 is adj usted to give just enoughplay to rod 11 to produce the desired expansion in the Scrapers, the

IOD

diameter of the scraping edge is contracted to permit the insertion ofthe cleanerinto the flue, such contraction being effected by moving rod11` in the direction that will cause the nut, or block, 5 to approachthe stock, the device is inserted and expanded by a reverse motion ofrod 11, and the scraping is eifected by forcing the cleaner through theflue by pushing on rod ll in the customary manner, or by using the rodas a ram. The latter method is usually preferable as it greatlyfacilitates the cleaning process at all times, and particularly whenthere is an unusual impediment to the motion of the cleaner. After thescraper has been forced through the Hue the act of pulling backward onthe handle draws back rod 11 and head 5, which collapses the scraper andpermits easy withdrawal thereof.

While the diiferent features of the invention are well adapted toconjoint use, there are some, notably the ram ming feature, which may beapplied to cleaners having diiferent structure either wholly or in part,and I do notlimit myself to the peculiarities described, except asspecifically set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a ue cleaner the combination of a scraper-stockand a scraper-rod carrying a nut longitudinally adjustable thereon,asleeve fastened to the scraper-rod and having slots lengthwise thereof,and a handle-rod loose in the sleeve and having a pin engaging the slotsthereof, said handle rod being adapted to strike the scraper rodsubstantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a iue cleaner of Scrapers consisting of Wingssubstantially at right angles with the longitudinal axis ofthe cleaner,bars carrying said Scrapers on their forward ends and having theiropposite ends hooked inwardly, a stock having rib-guides for the scraperbars, a cap fitting against the end of the stock and embracing thehooked ends of the bars, a nut holding the cap in place, a rod passingloosely through the stock, and upon said rod, the nut having slots inits periphery receiving the scraper bars substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a flue cleaner of a reciprocating handle-rodhaving a pin projecting from its side, a sleeve longitudinally slottedand carrying the scraper-rod, a stock mounted loosely on saidscraper-rod, bars secured in the stock and carrying Scrapers and a nuthaving its periphery slotted to receive the bars and adjustable on thescraper-rod between the stock and the end scraper blades, whereby thescraper may be expanded by a push or blow of the handle rod upon the endof the scraper-rod substantially as described.

4E. The combination, in a flue cleaner, of a stock having swingingbarsprovided with Scrapers, a rod adapted to be reciprocated lengthwisein the stock, a bar-controlling block; adjustable on the end of the rodbetween the bars, and a stop on the rod on the opposite side of thestock, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Isign my name '1n the presence of twosubscribing'witnesses.

ROBT. FARIES.

Attest:

JNO. W. SANNER, FRANK S. DoDD.

